Even in times of trouble, as he’s experiencing now, when flak is flying at him from every direction, that cool, calm, typically Norwegian exterior doesn’t change.

But suggest that he doesn’t care? Or accuse Celtic’s foreign players of accepting second best?

Deila gets irked and fires back. It happened on Friday at Lennoxtown.

His team threw away their Treble chances by losing to Ross County at Hampden last week.

And they were miles off it at Pittodrie in midweek as Aberdeen closed the gap at the top of the Premiership.

Deila knows it will be unacceptable for Celtic not to win the league.

The Scots in his side – especially skipper Scott Brown, keeper Craig Gordon, top scorer Leigh Griffiths and kid defender Kieran Tierney – are also well aware of the consequences if the Dons are crowned champions in May.

But what about the others in Deila’s squad? He’s adamant he doesn’t need to tell anyone at Parkhead what’s at stake this season.

Scott Brown is backing Ronny Deila (Image: SNS Group)

That includes the foreign contingent such as Nir Bitton, Stefan Johansen, Efe Ambrose, Dedryck Boyata and Mikael Lustig who – along with a few others – have gone missing in the last week.

Deila said: “Do people here think there are more winners in Scotland than abroad? That’s an opinion I’ve noticed here. There are winners outside Scotland too you know. People who have achieved things.

“The players here know what it’s about. They are here to win. Nobody comes to Celtic without wanting to win.

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“You have Broonie and KT but everyone is different. It’s the same with the foreign players. Stefan Johansen is an aggressive character but others are more calm.

“James Forrest is different to Scott Brown. So I don’t need to tell the players how to win. They know how important it is to win the league.

“The foreign players need love. You should try and move to another country and see how hard it is.

“They come here alone, they’re young and the environment is tough. How can they give their best?

Celtic's Nir Bitton (left) battles with Adam Rooney

“The players have to feel loved and trusted. Then you’ll get the best out of them. If not, send them away and they’ll become big stars at other clubs.”

The point was made to Deila that Johansen or Bitton don’t have the same affinity with Celtic as Brown or Tierney. However, he insists that doesn’t make them care any less about bringing success to the club.

He said: “Being a Celtic fan from youth is to do with their upbringing and personality. There will be many of KT’s friends who feel the same as him – they just haven’t achieved as much.